asean: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, political, business, academic
Quick answer
What does “asean” mean?
An intergovernmental political and economic organization of ten Southeast Asian nations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An intergovernmental political and economic organization of ten Southeast Asian nations.
A bloc representing the collective interests of Southeast Asia in international trade, diplomacy, security, and cultural cooperation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation is slightly more common in the UK as /ˈæsiː.æn/ (with distinct 's' and 'e') while the US more often uses /ˈɑːsiːɑːn/ (with merged 'se').
Connotations
Neutral geopolitical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media due to historical ties to the region; however, it is standard in international relations discourse globally.
Grammar
How to Use “asean” in a Sentence
ASEAN + verb (e.g., ASEAN meets, ASEAN agreed)Adjective + ASEAN (e.g., regional ASEAN, expanded ASEAN)Preposition + ASEAN (e.g., in ASEAN, within ASEAN, through ASEAN)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “asean” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The ASEAN ministerial statement was issued yesterday.
- She is an expert in ASEAN economic affairs.
American English
- The ASEAN summit concluded with a joint declaration.
- He attended the ASEAN trade forum in Jakarta.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the ASEAN market, trade agreements, and economic integration (e.g., 'We are expanding our operations into the ASEAN region.')
Academic
Analysed in political science, international relations, and economics for its role in regional integration and governance.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation, but may appear in news headlines about regional summits or agreements.
Technical
Used precisely to refer to the legal entity, its institutions, and its official documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “asean”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “asean”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'the ASEANS' is incorrect).
- Mispronouncing it as 'Ah-seen' or 'Ay-see-an'.
- Confusing ASEAN with APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, ASEAN is not a country. It is an intergovernmental organization comprising ten sovereign member states in Southeast Asia.
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
ASEAN was founded on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, by its five original members.
Its main purposes are to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development, and to promote regional peace and stability.
An intergovernmental political and economic organization of ten Southeast Asian nations.
Asean is usually formal, political, business, academic in register.
Asean: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæsiː.æn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːsiːɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ASEAN sounds like 'Asian' with an 'E' for the **E**ast. Think: 'A' group of Southeast Asian Nations.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FAMILY (ASEAN family, ASEAN brothers), A VEHICLE (ASEAN drives integration, ASEAN is moving forward), A VOICE (ASEAN speaks with one voice).
Practice
Quiz
What does the 'E' in ASEAN stand for?